Imaging control terminal, imaging system, imaging method, and program device

ABSTRACT

An imaging control terminal includes a wireless communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with an imaging terminal, an imaging module configured to generate imaging data, a display interface configured to display an image corresponding to the imaging data generated by the imaging module, an operation interface configured to receive an operation of an operator designating an imaging area or an imaging target to be imaged by the imaging terminal for the image, an information generation unit configured to generate imaging area information representing the imaging area or imaging target information representing the imaging target, and a communication control unit configured to cause the wireless communication interface to wirelessly transmit the imaging area information or the imaging target information to the imaging terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to technology for remotely controlling animaging terminal.

Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-108222,filed May 22, 2013, the content of which is incorporated herein byreference.

Description of the Related Art

There is an imaging system which includes an imaging terminal (digitalcamera or the like) having a wireless connection function and an imagingcontrol terminal (portable terminal or the like) and in which theimaging control terminal wirelessly remotely operates the imagingterminal to control an imaging operation of the imaging terminal. Forexample, an example of a portable terminal which wirelessly remotelyoperates a digital camera is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication, First Publication No. 2012-186698. Specifically, imagingdata is transmitted from the digital camera to the portable terminalafter the portable terminal has been wirelessly connected to the digitalcamera and an image captured by the digital camera is displayed on adisplay unit of the portable terminal receiving the imaging data. Inaddition, if a user performs a zoom operation on a display screen of theportable terminal when the image captured by the digital camera isdisplayed on the display unit of the portable terminal, the zoom settingof the digital camera is changed.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, an imaging controlterminal includes: a wireless communication interface configured towirelessly communicate with an imaging terminal; an imaging moduleconfigured to generate imaging data; a display interface configured todisplay an image corresponding to the imaging data generated by theimaging module; an operation interface configured to receive anoperation of an operator designating an imaging area or an imagingtarget to be imaged by the imaging terminal for the image; aninformation generation unit configured to generate imaging areainformation representing the imaging area or imaging target informationrepresenting the imaging target; and a communication control unitconfigured to cause the wireless communication interface to wirelesslytransmit the imaging area information or the imaging target informationto the imaging terminal.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present invention, an imagingterminal includes: a wireless communication interface configured towirelessly communicate with an imaging control terminal; an imagingmodule configured to generate imaging data; a communication control unitconfigured to cause the wireless communication interface to wirelesslyreceive imaging area information representing an imaging area or imagingtarget information representing an imaging target wirelessly transmittedfrom the imaging control terminal; an imaging control unit configured tocause the imaging module to generate the imaging data after the imagingarea information or the imaging target information has been wirelesslyreceived; and an image processing unit configured to extract datacorresponding to an image including the imaging area or the imagingtarget from the imaging data generated by the imaging module.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present invention, an imagingsystem includes: an imaging control terminal and an imaging terminal,wherein the imaging control terminal includes: a first wirelesscommunication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with theimaging terminal, a first imaging module configured to generate imagingdata; a display interface configured to display an image correspondingto the imaging data generated by the first imaging module; an operationinterface configured to receive an operation of an operator designatingan imaging area or an imaging target to be imaged by the imagingterminal for the image; an information generation unit configured togenerate imaging area information representing the imaging area orimaging target information representing the imaging target; and a firstcommunication control unit configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication interface to wirelessly transmit the imaging areainformation or the imaging target information to the imaging terminal,and wherein the imaging terminal includes: a second wirelesscommunication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with theimaging control terminal; a second imaging module configured to generateimaging data; a second communication control unit configured to causethe second wireless communication interface to wirelessly receive theimaging area information or the imaging target information wirelesslytransmitted from the imaging control terminal; an imaging control unitconfigured to cause the second imaging module to generate imaging dataafter the imaging area information or the imaging target information hasbeen wirelessly received; and an image processing unit configured toextract data corresponding to an image including the imaging area or theimaging target from the imaging data generated by the second imagingmodule.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present invention, an imagingmethod includes the steps of: displaying, by a display interface of animaging control terminal, an image corresponding to imaging datagenerated by a first imaging module of the imaging control terminal;generating, by an information generation unit of the imaging controlterminal, imaging area information representing an imaging area orimaging target information representing an imaging target when anoperation interface of the imaging control terminal has received anoperation of an operator designating the imaging area or the imagingtarget to be imaged by an imaging terminal for the image; wirelesslytransmitting, by a first wireless communication interface of the imagingcontrol terminal, the imaging area information or the imaging targetinformation to the imaging terminal; wirelessly receiving, by a secondwireless communication interface of the imaging terminal, the imagingarea information or the imaging target information wirelesslytransmitted from the imaging control terminal; generating, by a secondimaging module of the imaging terminal, imaging data after the imagingarea information or the imaging target information has been wirelesslyreceived; and extracting, by an image processing unit of the imagingterminal, data corresponding to an image including the imaging area orthe imaging target from the imaging data generated by the second imagingmodule.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present invention, a programdevice saves a program for causing a computer to execute the steps ofcausing a display interface to display an image corresponding to imagingdata generated by an imaging module; generating imaging area informationrepresenting an imaging area or imaging target information representingan imaging target when an operation interface has received an operationof an operator designating the imaging area or the imaging target to beimaged by an imaging terminal for the image; and causing a wirelesscommunication interface to wirelessly transmit the imaging areainformation or the imaging target information to the imaging terminal.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present invention, a programdevice saves a program for causing a computer to execute the steps ofcausing a wireless communication interface to wirelessly receive imagingarea information representing an imaging area or imaging targetinformation representing an imaging target wirelessly transmitted froman imaging control terminal; causing an imaging module to generateimaging data after the imaging area information or the imaging targetinformation has been wirelessly received, and causing an imageprocessing unit to extract data corresponding to an image including theimaging area or the imaging target from the imaging data generated bythe imaging module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams illustrating a configuration of aportable terminal according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams illustrating a configuration of adigital camera according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a reference diagram illustrating an operation situation of animaging system according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a reference diagram illustrating an image displayed by theportable terminal according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a reference diagram illustrating an image transmitted by thedigital camera according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a reference diagram illustrating an image displayed by theportable terminal according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a reference diagram illustrating an image transmitted by thedigital camera according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation of theportable terminal according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation of thedigital camera according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation of thedigital camera according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a reference diagram illustrating an image displayed by aportable terminal according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation of theportable terminal according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation of adigital camera according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of aportable control unit provided in a portable terminal according to athird embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a reference diagram illustrating an operation situation of animaging system according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 16 is a reference diagram illustrating an image displayed by theportable terminal according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a reference diagram illustrating a method of predicting apoint in time at which a state of an imaging target becomes a desiredarrangement state in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a reference diagram illustrating an image captured by adigital camera according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 19 is a reference diagram illustrating an image transmitted by thedigital camera according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are block diagrams illustrating a configuration of adigital camera according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 21 is a reference diagram illustrating an image captured by thedigital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation of thedigital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation of thedigital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment)

First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.In this embodiment, an example in which the present invention is appliedto an imaging system including a digital camera (imaging terminal)configured to wirelessly transmit imaging data after imaging to aportable terminal and a portable terminal (imaging control terminal)configured to receive the imaging data transmitted from the digitalcamera and control an imaging operation of the digital camera will bedescribed.

(Configuration)

FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams illustrating a configuration of aportable terminal 1 according to this embodiment FIGS. 2A and 2B areblock diagrams illustrating a configuration of a digital camera 2according to this embodiment. First, the configurations of the portableterminal 1 and the digital camera 2 and an outline of an operation ofthe imaging system will be described using FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIGS. 2Aand 2B

The imaging system of this embodiment includes the portable terminal 1and the digital camera 2, and the portable terminal 1 and the digitalcamera 2 are connected by wireless communication. The digital camera 2wirelessly transmits captured image (still image) data generated byimaging to the portable terminal 1 and the portable terminal 1wirelessly controls the imaging operation of the digital camera 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the portable terminal 1 includes a portableimaging unit 3, an image processing unit 4, a display unit 5, a wirelesscommunication unit 6, a portable control unit 7, an operation detectionunit 8, and a data bus 9. The portable imaging unit 3 is an imagingmodule (imaging device) which performs an imaging operation to generateimaging data. The image processing unit 4 is a circuit which performsimage processing on the imaging data from the portable imaging unit 3.The display unit 5 is a display interface (display device) whichdisplays an image corresponding to the imaging data generated by theportable imaging unit 3 and an operation item. The wirelesscommunication unit 6 is a wireless communication interface (wirelesscommunication device) which wirelessly communicates with the digitalcamera 2. The portable control unit 7 controls the overall portableterminal 1. The operation detection unit 8 is an operation interface(operation device) which receives an operation performed by an operatorand detects an instruction based on the operation. In the operationperformed by the operator, an operation of designating an imaging areaor an imaging target to be imaged by the digital camera 2 for an imageto be displayed by the display unit 5 is included. The data bus 9 is atransmission path of various types of data such as imaging data.

In this embodiment, an example in which a flat panel display is used asthe display unit 5 and a touch panel disposed on the flat panel displayis used as the operation detection unit 8 will be described.

FIG. 1B illustrates a functional configuration of the portable controlunit 7. The portable control unit 7 implements at least functions of aninformation generation unit 7 a and a communication control unit 7 b.The information generation unit 7 a generates imaging area informationrepresenting the imaging area based on an instruction detected by theoperation detection unit 8 or imaging target information representingthe imaging target based on the instruction detected by the operationdetection unit 8. The communication control unit 7 b causes the wirelesscommunication unit 6 to wirelessly transmit the imaging area informationor the imaging target information to the digital camera 2. In addition,the communication control unit 7 b causes the wireless communicationunit 6 to wirelessly transmit imaging execution instruction informationfor issuing an instruction to execute imaging to the digital camera 2and wirelessly receive imaging data wirelessly transmitted from thedigital camera 2.

The portable control unit 7 stores a program for controlling theoperation of the portable control unit 7 or necessary data. For example,the portable control unit 7, which is a computer of the portableterminal 1, reads and executes the program for controlling the operationof the portable control unit 7 and therefore the functions of theinformation generation unit 7 a and the communication control unit 7 bare implemented as software functions. In addition, this program, forexample, may be provided by a “computer-readable recording medium” suchas a flash memory. In addition, the above-described program may be inputto the portable terminal 1 by transmitting the program from a computerstoring the program in a storage device or the like to the portableterminal 1 via a transmission medium or transmission waves of thetransmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmittingthe program refers to a medium having a function of transmittinginformation like a network (communication network) such as the Internetor a communication circuit (communication line) such as a telephonecircuit. In addition, the above-described program may be used toimplement some of the above-described functions. Further, the programmay be a so-called differential file (differential program) capable ofimplementing the above-described functions in combination with a programalready recorded on the computer.

A terminal including the portable imaging unit 3, the display unit 5,the wireless communication unit 6, the operation detection unit 8, andthe portable control unit 7 as a minimum configuration corresponds toone aspect of the imaging control terminal of the present invention. Forexample, the portable imaging unit 3 corresponds to an imaging module inthe imaging control terminal of the present invention, the display unit5 corresponds to a display interface in the imaging control terminal ofthe present invention, the wireless communication unit 6 corresponds toa wireless communication interface in the imaging control terminal ofthe present invention, the operation detection unit 8 corresponds to anoperation interface in the imaging control terminal of the presentinvention, and the portable control unit 7 corresponds to an informationgeneration unit and a communication control unit in the imaging controlterminal of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the digital camera 2 includes a cameraimaging unit 10, an image processing unit 11, a wireless communicationunit 12, a camera control unit 13, and a data bus 14. The camera imagingunit 10 is an imaging module (imaging device) which performs an imagingoperation to generate imaging data. The image processing unit 11 is acircuit which performs image processing on the imaging data from thecamera imaging unit 10, and extracts data corresponding to an imageincluding an imaging area or an imaging target from the imaging datagenerated by the camera imaging unit 10. The wireless communication unit12 is a wireless communication interface (wireless communication device)which wirelessly communicates with the portable terminal 1. The cameracontrol unit 13 controls the overall digital camera 2. The data bus 14is a transmission path of various types of data such as imaging data.

FIG. 2B illustrates a functional configuration of the camera controlunit 13. The camera control unit 13 implements at least functions of acommunication control unit 13 a and an imaging control unit 13 b. Thecommunication control unit 13 a causes the wireless communication unit12 to wirelessly receive the imaging area information or the imagingtarget information wirelessly transmitted from the portable terminal 1.In addition, the communication control unit 13 a causes the wirelesscommunication unit 12 to wirelessly receive the imaging executioninstruction information wirelessly transmitted from the portableterminal 1 and wirelessly transmit the imaging data generated by thecamera imaging unit 10 to the portable terminal 1. The imaging controlunit 13 b causes the camera imaging unit 10 to execute imaging andgenerate imaging data after the imaging area information or the imagingtarget information has been wirelessly received.

The camera control unit 13 stores a program for controlling theoperation of the camera control unit 13 or necessary data. For example,the camera control unit 13, which is a computer of the digital camera 2,reads and executes the program for controlling the operation of thecamera control unit 13 and therefore the functions of the communicationcontrol unit 13 a and the imaging control unit 13 b are implemented assoftware functions. An implementation form of this program is similar toan implementation form of a program which implements the functions ofthe information generation unit 7 a and the communication control unit 7b of the portable terminal 1. The camera control unit 13 may have afunction of the image processing unit 11

A terminal including the camera imaging unit 10, the image processingunit 11, the wireless communication unit 12, and the camera control unit13 as a minimum configuration corresponds to one aspect of the portableterminal of the present invention. For example, the camera imaging unit10 corresponds to the imaging module in the imaging terminal of thepresent invention, the image processing unit 11 corresponds to the imageprocessing unit in the imaging terminal of the present invention, thewireless communication unit 12 corresponds to the wireless communicationinterface in the imaging terminal of the present invention, and thecamera control unit 13 corresponds to the communication control unit andthe imaging control unit in the imaging terminal of the presentinvention.

(Operation Outline)

The portable terminal 1 displays an image corresponding to imaging datafrom the portable imaging unit 3 on the display unit 5. Thereafter, theportable terminal 1 detects an instruction of the operator for thedisplayed image using the operation detection unit 8 and generatesimaging area information or imaging target information according tocontent of the detected instruction. The portable terminal 1 wirelesslytransmits the generated imaging area information or imaging targetinformation to the digital camera 2 via the wireless communication unit6.

After the transmission of the imaging area information or imaging targetinformation, the portable terminal 1 transmits imaging executioninstruction information to the digital camera 2 according to an imagingstart instruction of the operator. The imaging area information orimaging target information is generated by combining composition data(data representing composition of a captured image) obtained byprocessing imaging data from the portable imaging unit 3 in the imageprocessing unit 4 and content indicated by the operator.

The digital camera 2 receives the imaging area information or imagingtarget information from the portable terminal 1 via the wirelesscommunication unit 12, and determines an imaging range of the imagingdata to be transmitted to the portable terminal 1 using the imaging areainformation or imaging target information and the composition dataobtained by processing the imaging data from the camera imaging unit 10in the image processing unit 11. Upon receiving the imaging executioninstruction information from the portable terminal 1, the digital camera2 transmits the imaging data corresponding to an image of a rangedesignated in the imaging range to the portable terminal 1 via thewireless communication unit 12 after an imaging process has beenperformed.

(Operation Details)

The generation of the imaging area information or imaging targetinformation by the portable terminal 1 and the imaging process by thedigital camera 2 using the imaging area information or imaging targetinformation will be described in detail. FIG. 3 illustrates an operationsituation of the imaging system according to this embodiment. In FIG. 3,in a state in which the portable terminal 1 and the digital camera 2 arewirelessly connected, the two devices perform imaging toward a person 15and a person 16. FIG. 4 is an example of an image displayed by theportable terminal 1 on the display unit 5 in the state illustrated inFIG. 3.

The imaging data from the portable imaging unit 3 is given to thedisplay unit 5 via the data bus 9, and the image illustrated in FIG. 4is displayed. Buttons (a range button 17, a target button 18, and ashutter button 19) are displayed on a left end of the image. Thesesbuttons are buttons corresponding to operation items to be selected bythe operator. When the operator touches and selects the button, theselected button is displayed with emphasis.

Hereinafter, an image displayed on the portable terminal 1 and an imagetransmitted by the digital camera 2 to the portable terminal 1 will bedescribed for each of the case in which the imaging range (imaging area)is designated and the case in which the imaging target is designated.FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the image displayed on the display unit5 of the portable terminal 1 when the imaging range is designated. InFIG. 4, the range button 17 is selected and the designation (rangedesignation) of the imaging range is performed. The portable imagingunit 3, the display unit 5, the portable control unit 7, and theoperation detection unit 8 cooperatively perform an operation related tothe designation of the imaging range.

Specifically, the imaging data from the portable imaging unit 3 istransmitted to the display unit 5 and the display unit 5 displays animage. In parallel with the display of the image, the portable controlunit 7 analyzes operation content of the operator detected by theoperation detection unit 8 and the portable control unit 7 issues aninstruction for causing the display unit 5 to display a button accordingto the operation content. As a result, the image and the button aredisplayed on the display unit 5

When the operator has selected the range button 17, the range button 17is displayed with emphasis as illustrated in FIG. 4. Thereafter, theportable control unit 7 detects a position of the imaging range 40designated by the operator via the operation detection unit 8. Thedesignation of the imaging range is performed by selecting two points ofa display screen to designate a region. In the case of FIG. 4, theimaging range is designated by designating two points A and B.

In the case of FIG. 4, an imaging range 40 is designated to include thepersons 15 and 16.

When the designation of the imaging range 40 ends, imaging areainformation is generated. The imaging area information is information tobe used in a process in which the digital camera 2 determines a range ofan image to be transmitted to the portable terminal 1. It is onlynecessary for the imaging area information to be information forenabling the imaging range indicated by the portable terminal 1 to bedetected from the imaging data output by the camera imaging unit 10.

When an imaging range 40 has been designated, the imaging areainformation including composition data representing composition of animage captured by the portable terminal 1 and position data representinga position of the imaging range 40 designated by the operator isgenerated so that the digital camera 2 can recognize the imaging range40.

FIG. 5 illustrates an image to be transmitted by the digital camera 2 tothe portable terminal 1 when the imaging range 40 has been designated.As illustrated in FIG. 5, the image to be transmitted by the digitalcamera 2 to the portable terminal 1 is an image corresponding to theimaging range 40 including the persons 15 and 16. When the shutterbutton 19 is selected in the portable terminal 1, imaging executioninstruction information is transmitted from the portable terminal 1 tothe digital camera 2. When the digital camera 2 receives the imagingexecution instruction information, the image of the range designated inthe imaging range 40 is transmitted after an imaging process isperformed.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of an image displayed on the display unit5 of the portable terminal 1 when the imaging target is designated. Inthis embodiment, an example in which the person 16 has been selectedafter the target button 18 has been selected will be described.

When the designation of the person 16 ends, imaging target informationis generated. Like the imaging area information, the imaging targetinformation is information to be used in a process in which the digitalcamera 2 determines a range of an image to be transmitted to theportable terminal 1. It is only necessary for the imaging targetinformation to be information for enabling an imaging target indicatedby the portable terminal 1 to be detected from imaging data output bythe camera imaging unit 10.

When the person 16 has been designated, imaging target informationincluding composition data representing composition of an image capturedby the portable terminal 1 and target data representing the person 16 inthe composition data is generated so that the digital camera 2 canrecognize the person 16.

When the person 16 is designated as the imaging target in the imagedisplayed by the portable terminal 1, the person 16 is displayed withemphasis as illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 illustrates an image to betransmitted by the digital camera 2 to the portable terminal 1 when theperson 16 has been selected. As illustrated in FIG. 7, an image obtainedby extracting only the person 16 is transmitted from the digital camera2.

Next, a generation method and a usage method of the imaging areainformation and the imaging target information will be described. Whenthe digital camera 2 receives the imaging area information or theimaging target information, the image processing unit 11 comparescomposition data included in the imaging area information or the imagingtarget information to composition data generated from the imaging datafrom the camera imaging unit 10. From a comparison result, the imageprocessing unit 11 obtains a correspondence relationship between eachposition in an image used by the portable terminal 1 for generation ofthe imaging area information or the imaging target information and eachposition in an image captured by the digital camera 2. Thereby, it canbe seen which part of a range in which the camera imaging unit 10 of thedigital camera 2 performs imaging corresponds to a range in which theportable imaging unit 3 of the portable terminal 1 performs imaging.

Thereafter, the image processing unit 11 specifies (determines) a rangeof an image to be transmitted to the portable terminal 1 using positiondata included in the imaging area information or target data included inthe imaging target information. Thereafter, the image processing unit 11extracts data of a part corresponding to a specified range from theimaging data generated by the camera imaging unit 10, and generatestransmission data to be transmitted to the portable terminal 1.Hereinafter, details of a process of specifying the range of the imageto be transmitted to the portable terminal 1 will be described.

It is only necessary for the above-described composition data to beinformation for enabling a process in which the digital camera 2recognizes composition of an image during imaging and specifying a partof the recognized composition to be set in a region of an image to betransmitted to the portable terminal 1. Content of the composition datais considered diversely according to an algorithm for recognizing thecomposition.

As the algorithm for recognizing the composition, various conventionalalgorithms have been devised. For example, a method of recognizingcomposition of image data using a luminance distribution of the imagedata and a method of recognizing composition by extracting a contourline of an image and detecting a pattern of the contour line have beendevised. The present invention is not limited by the algorithm forrecognizing the composition. In this embodiment, an algorithm ofextracting a contour line of an image and recognizing composition usinga pattern of the extracted contour line will be described as an example.

As described above, the composition data is generated by the imageprocessing unit 4 processing imaging data from the portable imaging unit3 in the portable terminal 1. The contour line used in recognition ofthe composition, for example, is obtained by performing differentialprocessing on imaging data. The composition data includes contour lineinformation obtained as binary data. A range of the composition data tobe used in this embodiment, for example, is an overall range of an imagecaptured by the portable terminal 1. In addition, target data to be usedwhen the imaging target has been selected is template data obtained byextracting only the contour line of the imaging target.

The image processing unit 11 extracts the contour line by processing theimaging data from the camera imaging unit 10 and performs a matching(pattern matching) process on the extracted contour line and a contourline represented by composition data of the imaging area information orthe imaging target information wirelessly received from the portableterminal 1. According to this matching process, an imaging rangecorresponding to an overall imaging range of the portable imaging unit 3is detected in imaging data from the camera imaging unit 10. Variousprocesses have been devised as the matching process and their detailswill not be described here.

Contour line information constituting composition data among the imagingarea information and the imaging target information in this embodimentincludes information of an overall imaging range of the portable imagingunit 3. Thus, it is possible to specify the imaging range correspondingto the overall imaging range of the portable imaging unit 3 in theimaging data from the camera imaging unit 10 by performing the matchingprocess using this contour line information and the contour lineinformation obtained by processing the imaging data from the cameraimaging unit 10.

When position data of the imaging area information is used as describedusing FIG. 4, the image processing unit 11 converts the imaging rangerepresented by the position data (the imaging range designated by theoperator) into a range of the imaging data from the camera imaging unit10 using the information of the imaging range specified by theabove-described method. The image processing unit 11 determines thisrange as a range of an image to be transmitted to the portable terminal1.

In addition, when target data of the imaging target information is usedas described using FIG. 6, the image processing unit 11 performs thematching process on the contour line information within the imagingrange specified by the above-described method and the template datawhich is the target data. Thereby, it is possible to specify theposition of the imaging target represented by the target data in theimaging data from the camera imaging unit 10. After the position of theimaging target has been specified, the image processing unit 11determines a predetermined range including the position of the imagingtarget as the range of the image to be transmitted to the portableterminal 1. The predetermined range is a range in which the imagingtarget (the person 16 in the example of FIG. 7) is designated as thecenter, and, for example, is a range including the range of the targetdata and 16 pixels around the target data.

Next, operations of the respective devices in this embodiment will bedescribed using FIGS. 8 to 10. FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of theportable terminal 1. The portable control unit 7 of the portableterminal 1 performs the operation illustrated in FIG. 8 by controllingeach related unit. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the operations of thedigital camera 2. The camera control unit 13 of the digital camera 2performs the operations illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 by controllingeach related unit.

First, the operation of the portable terminal 1 will be described usingFIG. 8. When an application of camera processing is executed in theportable terminal 1, the portable control unit 7 executes the cameraprocessing S1. In the camera processing S1, the portable control unit 7initially executes initial setting S2 for setting an initial value ineach unit of the portable terminal 1.

After the initial setting S2, the portable control unit 7 controls thewireless communication unit 6 to execute a camera connection S3 in whicha wireless connection with the digital camera 2 is performed. After thecamera connection S3, the portable control unit 7 controls the displayunit 5 to execute a portable imaging image display process S4 ofdisplaying an image as illustrated in FIG. 4 on the display unit 5 basedon the imaging data generated by the portable imaging unit 3.

After the portable imaging image display process S4, the portablecontrol unit 7 executes an information generation process S5 ofgenerating the imaging area information or the imaging targetinformation in the above-described method. After the informationgeneration process S5, the portable control unit 7 controls the wirelesscommunication unit 6 to execute an information transmission process S6of wirelessly transmitting the imaging area information or the imagingtarget information to the digital camera 2.

After the information transmission process S6, the portable control unit7 controls the wireless communication unit 6 based on the instruction ofimaging execution of the operator to execute an imaging executioninstruction process S7 of transmitting imaging execution instructioninformation for issuing an instruction to execute imaging to the digitalcamera 2. After the imaging execution instruction process S7, theportable control unit 7 controls the wireless communication unit 6 toexecute an imaging data reception process S8 of wirelessly receivingimaging data wirelessly transmitted from the digital camera 2 after thedigital camera 2 has executed imaging.

After the imaging data reception process S8, the portable control unit 7controls the display unit 5 to execute a received image display processS9 of displaying an image based on imaging data wirelessly received fromthe digital camera 2 on the display unit 5. After the received imagedisplay process S9, the portable control unit 7 executes a determinationprocess S10 of determining whether to end imaging based on a result ofdetecting the instruction from the operator as to whether to continue orend the imaging in the operation detection unit 8.

The portable control unit 7 executes imaging continuation S11 when theimaging continues, and executes a camera disconnection S12 when theimaging ends. In either of the imaging continuation S11 and the cameradisconnection S12, the portable control unit 7 controls the wirelesscommunication unit 6 to wirelessly transmit information includinginstruction content of the operator to the digital camera 2.

After the imaging continuation S11, the portable control unit 7continues the process by returning to the portable imaging image displayprocess S4. On the other hand, after the camera disconnection S12, theportable control unit 7 ends the camera processing after disconnectingthe wireless communication with the digital camera 2 (S13).

Next, the operation of the digital camera 2 will be described usingFIGS. 9 and 10. When the digital camera 2 is activated, the cameracontrol unit 13 executes an overall process S21. In the overall processS21, the camera control unit 13 initially executes initial setting S22in which an initial value is set in each unit of the digital camera 2.

After the initial setting S22, the camera control unit 13 controls thewireless communication unit 12 to execute a portable connection S23 inwhich a connection with the portable terminal 1 is performed. Theportable connection S23 is a process corresponding to the cameraconnection S3 to be performed by the portable terminal 1.

After the portable connection S23, the camera control unit 13 controlsthe wireless communication unit 12 to execute an information receptionprocess S24 of wirelessly receiving the imaging area information or theimaging target information wirelessly transmitted from the portableterminal 1. The information reception process S24 is a processcorresponding to the information transmission process S6 performed bythe portable terminal 1. After the information reception process S24,the camera control unit 13 executes an imaging process 1 (S25) using thereceived imaging area information or imaging target information

Hereinafter, the imaging process 1 (S25) to be performed in thisembodiment will be described using FIG. 10, FIG. 10 illustrates detailsof the imaging process 1 (S25). In the imaging process 1 (S25)illustrated in FIG. 10, the camera control unit 13 initially controlsthe wireless communication unit 12 to execute execution instructionwaiting S41 in which it waits for the imaging execution instructioninformation wirelessly transmitted from the portable terminal 1 to bereceived. When the portable terminal 1 performs the imaging executioninstruction process S7, the wireless communication unit 12 receives theimaging execution instruction information and therefore the cameracontrol unit 13 ends the execution instruction waiting S41 and executesan imaging execution process S42. In the imaging execution process S42,the camera control unit 13 controls the camera imaging unit 10 toexecute an imaging process.

After the imaging execution process S42, the camera control unit 13executes a transmission data generation process S43 of generatingtransmission data to be transmitted from the digital camera 2 to theportable terminal 1 according to the imaging area information or theimaging target information. In the transmission data generation processS43, the image processing unit 11 generates transmission datacorresponding to the imaging area information or the imaging targetinformation by receiving an instruction from the camera control unit 13.After the transmission data generation process S43, the camera controlunit 13 executes a process by returning to the overall process S21(S44).

When the imaging process 1 (S25) ends, the camera control unit 13controls the wireless communication unit 12 to execute an imaging datatransmission process S26 of wirelessly transmitting transmission datagenerated in the imaging process 1 (S25) to the portable terminal 1. Incorrespondence with the imaging data transmission process S26, theimaging data reception process S8 is executed by the portable terminal1.

After the imaging data transmission process S26, the camera control unit13 controls the wireless communication unit 12 to execute an instructioncontent reception process S27. The instruction content reception processS27 is a process corresponding to the imaging continuation S11 and thecamera disconnection S12 to be performed by the portable terminal 1, andis a process of wirelessly receiving information representing theinstruction of the imaging continuation or the imaging end from theportable terminal 1.

After the instruction content reception process S27, the camera controlunit 13 executes a determination process S28 of determining whether toend the imaging according to instruction content represented byinformation received from the portable terminal 1 in the instructioncontent reception process S27. When the imaging continues, the cameracontrol unit 13 continues the process by returning to the informationreception process S24. When the imaging ends, the camera control unit 13controls the wireless communication unit 12 to end an operation of thedigital camera 2 after executing the portable disconnection S29 (S30).The portable disconnection S29 is a process corresponding to the cameradisconnection S12 performed by the portable terminal 1.

Although the imaging data is transmitted in the processes illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9, the imaging system may not transmit the imaging data. Forexample, when the digital camera 2 has an internal memory or when anexternal memory is connected to the digital camera 2, the digital camera2 may record imaging data corresponding to an image illustrated in FIG.5 or 7 in the internal memory or the external memory.

As described above, according to this embodiment, an operation ofdesignating an imaging area or an imaging target is performed for animage captured by the portable terminal 1, and imaging area informationrepresenting the imaging area or imaging target information representingthe imaging target is wirelessly transmitted to the digital camera 2.Thereby, because the operator can designate the imaging area or theimaging target before an image captured by the digital camera 2 iswirelessly received by the portable terminal 1, it is possible to reducea delay of imaging in the digital camera 2. In addition, it is possibleto reduce power consumption in the digital camera 2 because it ispossible to eliminate a process in which the digital camera 2 generatesimaging data to be used in a display of an image in the portableterminal 1 and a process in which the digital camera 2 wirelesslytransmits the generated imaging data to the portable terminal 1.

(Second Embodiment)

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.This embodiment is an example in which a timing (imaging execution timepoint) of a shutter trigger of a digital camera 2 is automaticallydetermined. For example, the digital camera 2 automatically executesimaging at a desired timing such as when a smiling face of a person hasbeen detected. Specifically, a portable terminal 1 issues an instructionof imaging execution after transmitting imaging execution conditioninformation for determining the imaging execution time point of thedigital camera 2 to the digital camera 2. After receiving the imagingexecution instruction, the digital camera 2 performs imaging at a pointin time at which an image designated in an imaging range is consistentwith an imaging execution condition represented by the imaging executioncondition information.

(Configuration)

Configurations of the portable terminal 1 and the digital camera 2 arethe same as those of the respective devices in the first embodiment.However, in the portable terminal 1, an information generation unit 7 aof a portable control unit 7 generates imaging execution conditioninformation based on an instruction detected by an operation detectionunit 8. The imaging execution condition information of this embodimentis information about a state of an image of an imaging area representedby imaging area information or an image of an imaging target representedby imaging target information. In addition, in the digital camera 2, animaging control unit 13 b of a camera control unit 13 causes a cameraimaging unit 10 to execute imaging at an imaging timing based on theimaging execution condition information and generate imaging data.

(Operation Details)

FIG. 11 is an example of an image displayed on a display unit 5 of theportable terminal 1 when the operator indicates an imaging executioncondition. In FIG. 11, a condition setting screen for allowing theoperator to indicate the imaging execution condition is displayed. FIG.11 illustrates an image when the imaging execution condition isindicated in a state in which a target button 18 has been selected and aperson 16 has been selected as an imaging target when the imageillustrated in FIG. 6 is displayed.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, buttons displayed on the condition settingscreen are different from the buttons illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 11, three types of buttons of a straightface button 20, a smiling face button 21, and a still button 22 are setas buttons for indicating the imaging execution condition. The straightface button 20 is a button for indicating that the imaging is performedwhen the selected person has a straight face as the imaging executioncondition. The smiling face button 21 is a button for indicating thatthe imaging is performed when the selected person is smiling as theimaging execution condition. The still button 22 is a button forindicating that the imaging is performed when the selected personbecomes still as the imaging execution condition.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, if the smiling face button 21 is selected,after the selected smiling face button 21 is displayed with emphasis,the imaging execution condition information representing that theimaging is executed when the selected person smiles is transmitted tothe digital camera 2. Thereafter, the display screen returns to thestate illustrated in FIG. 6. When the shutter button 19 is selected, theimaging execution instruction information is transmitted to the digitalcamera 2.

FIG. 12 illustrates an operation of the portable terminal 1. In cameraprocessing S50 illustrated in FIG. 12, the imaging execution instructionprocess S7 in FIG. 8 is changed to a transmission process S56 of imagingexecution condition information. In the transmission process S56 of theimaging execution condition information, the portable control unit 7controls the wireless communication unit 6 to wirelessly transmit theimaging execution condition information to the digital camera 2. Asidefrom the above-described operations, operations S51 to S55 and S57 toS62 are similar to operations S2 to S13 illustrated in FIG. 8, and thusdescription thereof is omitted.

The operation of the digital camera 2 according to this embodiment isimplemented by replacing the imaging process 1 (S25) among the processesillustrated in FIG. 9 with an imaging process 2 (S70) illustrated inFIG. 13. FIG. 13 illustrates details of the imaging process 2 (S70).Upon receiving the imaging execution instruction information, thedigital camera 2 executes the imaging process 2 (S70) illustrated inFIG. 13.

A process illustrated in FIG. 13 is a process to be executed by thecamera control unit 13 of the digital camera 2. In addition, imageprocessing of detecting the smiling face or the like which is an imagingexecution condition is executed by the image processing unit 11. Whenthe image processing unit 11 notifies the camera control unit 13 of adetection result of the smiling face or the like, imaging is executed.

The imaging process 2 (S70) will be described using FIG. 13. The imagingprocess 2 (S70) is different from the imaging process 1 (S25) in thatimaging is executed at a point in time at which the condition designatedin the imaging execution condition information has been achieved.Specifically, the camera control unit 13 executes execution instructionwaiting S71 in which it waits for an imaging execution instruction. Whenthe imaging execution instruction information has been wirelesslyreceived from the portable terminal 1, the camera control unit 13executes an execution condition check process S72 of checking thepresence/absence of the imaging execution condition without immediatelyexecuting the imaging.

When there is no imaging execution condition, the camera control unit 13controls the camera imaging unit 10 to execute an imaging executionprocess S74. When there is an imaging execution condition such as asmiling face, the camera control unit 13 executes a conditionachievement check process S73 of determining whether the imagingexecution condition has been achieved based on a result of imageprocessing by the image processing unit 11. The detection of the imagingexecution condition is executed by the image processing unit 11, and thecamera control unit 13 is notified of the result. When the imagingexecution condition has not been achieved, the camera control unit 13continues a condition achievement check process S73. An imagingexecution process S74 is performed at a point in time at which theimaging execution condition has been achieved.

After the imaging execution process S74, the camera control unit 13executes a transmission data generation process S75 of generatingtransmission data to be transmitted from the digital camera 2 to theportable terminal 1 according to imaging area information or imagingtarget information. In the transmission data generation process S75, theimage processing unit 11 receives an instruction from the camera controlunit 13 and generates transmission data corresponding to the imagingarea information or imaging target information. After the transmissiondata generation process S75, the camera control unit 13 executes theprocess by returning to the overall process S21 (S76).

According to the above-described process, the digital camera 2automatically performs imaging at the moment at which the person 16begins smiling in the case of the presence description.

Because imaging is executed when the state of the image becomes a state(a state of the smiling face or the like) in which the imaging executioncondition is shown, the imaging can be executed at a desired timingaccording to this embodiment as described above.

(Third Embodiment)

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.In this embodiment, the portable terminal 1 predicts a point in time atwhich the state of an imaging target becomes a state of a desiredarrangement (positional relationship) and adjusts a transmission timingof imaging execution instruction information to be transmitted by theportable terminal 1 to the digital camera 2 in consideration of a timerequired for wireless communication of imaging execution instructioninformation based on the predicted timing. Thereby, it is possible tooptimally adjust the imaging timing in the digital camera 2.

In addition, in this embodiment, the portable terminal 1 instructs thedigital camera 2 to start focus adjustment before the predicted point intime at which the state of the imaging target becomes the desiredarrangement state. Thereby, a start timing of focus processing isoptimized

(Configuration)

The configuration of the portable terminal 1 is the same as theconfiguration of the portable terminal 1 in the first embodiment exceptfor the functional configuration of the portable control unit 7. FIG. 14illustrates the functional configuration of the portable control unit 7.The portable control unit 7 implements at least functions of aninformation generation unit 7 a, a communication control unit 7 b, and aprediction unit 7 c. The information generation unit 7 a is the same asthat of the first embodiment.

The prediction unit 7 c predicts (estimates) an imaging timing at whichthe state of the image of the imaging area or the imaging target becomesa predetermined state based on imaging data corresponding to an imagedisplayed on the display unit 5. Specifically, as will be describedlater, the prediction unit 7 c predicts a time from a start time pointof a process related to prediction to an imaging timing at which theimaging area or the imaging target is in a predetermined state based onimaging data corresponding to an image displayed on the display unit 5,and predicts a transmission timing of the imaging execution instructioninformation based on the predicted time and a communication delay timeaccording to wireless communication. In an example of this embodiment,the imaging timing is a timing at which the imaging target moves to apredetermined position of the imaging area.

The communication control unit 7 b causes the wireless communicationunit 6 to wirelessly transmit imaging execution instruction informationto the digital camera 2 at a transmission timing predicted by theprediction unit 7 c. That is, the communication control unit 7 b causesthe wireless communication unit 6 to wirelessly transmit imagingexecution instruction information to the digital camera 2 at a point intime which is at least a time necessary to wirelessly communicate withthe portable terminal 1 earlier than the predicted imaging timing. Inaddition, the communication control unit 7 b causes the wirelesscommunication unit 6 to wirelessly transmit focus adjustment instructioninformation for issuing a focus adjustment instruction to the digitalcamera 2 before wirelessly transmitting the imaging executioninstruction information.

The configuration of the digital camera 2 is the same as that of thedigital camera 2 in the first embodiment.

(Operation Details)

FIG. 15 illustrates an operation situation of the imaging systemaccording to this embodiment. In FIG. 15, in a state in which theportable terminal 1 and the digital camera 2 have been wirelesslyconnected, the two devices perform imaging toward a person 23. Inaddition, in FIG. 15, the digital camera 2 is configured to performimaging at the moment at which the person 23 enters a goal 24.

FIG. 16 is an example of an image displayed by the portable terminal 1on the display unit 5 in the state illustrated in FIG. 15. Arrangements25, 26, and 27 are displayed on the left end of the image. If theoperator touches and selects a desired arrangement, the selectedarrangement is displayed with emphasis.

FIG. 16 illustrates a state in which the operator designates an imagingrange 28 in the vicinity of the goal 24 and selects the arrangement 26serving as a condition of starting imaging. The arrangement 26represents a condition that the person be at the center of a partdesignated as the imaging range. In this connection, the arrangement 25represents a condition that the person be at the left end of the partdesignated as the imaging range. In addition, the arrangement 27represents a condition that the person be at the right end of the partdesignated as the imaging range

When the arrangement 26 has been designated in the portable terminal 1,it is possible to designate a person serving as the arrangement 26 andthe person 23 is designated in the example of this embodiment. Likewise,even when the arrangements 25 and 27 have been designated, it ispossible to designate the person serving as the arrangements 25 and 27.

FIG. 17 illustrates a method in which the portable terminal 1 predicts apoint in time at which a state of an imaging target becomes a desiredarrangement state. A method of predicting the point in time at which thestate of the person 23 becomes the state of the arrangement 26 will bedescribed using FIG. 17.

A point C of FIG. 17 indicates a current place of the person 23. A pointD indicates a center position of an imaging range 28. A point in time atwhich a display screen of the portable terminal 1 is in the state ofFIG. 17 is defined as a start time point, and a time until the person 23moves to the center of the imaging range 28 and is in a state of thearrangement 26 is defined as an elapsed time t1. The start time point isa point in time at which the imaging range 28 is designated, thearrangement 26 is selected, and the person 23 is designated. The elapsedtime t1 is obtained from movement vector information representing amovement speed of the person 23 at a current time point and informationabout a distance between points C and D.

Various methods have been devised as a method of obtaining the movementvector information, and these will not be described in detail. Forexample, it is possible to detect a movement vector by obtaining aposition of an imaging target in imaging data from the portable imagingunit 3 for every frame. In this embodiment, the image processing unit 11detects movement vector information by processing imaging data

Next, a method of detecting a communication delay time t2 related towireless communication from the portable terminal 1 to the digitalcamera 2 will be described There are various methods as a method ofdetecting a time required for wireless communication between devices andany such method may be used. For example, a method in which the portableterminal 1 measures a time until a response from the digital camera 2 isreceived after the portable terminal 1 performs transmission formeasurement to the digital camera 2 and sets half the time as acommunication delay time may be used

The portable terminal 1 calculates the elapsed time t1 and thecommunication delay time t2 according to the above-described method andtransmits imaging execution instruction information to the digitalcamera 2 at a transmission timing based on the calculated time.Specifically, a timing t at which the imaging execution instructioninformation is transmitted is obtained by t=t1−t2.

The operation of the portable terminal 1 according to this embodiment issubstantially the same as the operation illustrated in FIG. 8.Hereinafter, only an operation different from the operation illustratedin FIG. 8 will be described. The communication control unit 7 b controlsthe wireless communication unit 6 at the above-described timing t toexecute the imaging execution instruction process S7 of transmitting theimaging execution instruction information to the digital camera 2.Thereby, the imaging execution instruction information is transmitted tothe digital camera 2 at a desired timing.

In addition, the start instruction of the focus adjustment for thedigital camera 2 is issued at a point in time at which an imaging rangeor an imaging target has been designated and imaging area information orimaging target information has been transmitted. Specifically, at apoint in time at which the information transmission process S6 has beenexecuted, the portable control unit 7 controls the wirelesscommunication unit 6 to wirelessly transmit focus adjustment instructioninformation for issuing a focus adjustment instruction to the digitalcamera 2. Thereby, the focus adjustment start instruction is issued at apoint in time at which a desired imaging area or imaging target has beenspecified. Thus, in the digital camera 2, the focus adjustment endsbefore the imaging execution instruction to be issued thereafter. Theportable terminal 1 may simultaneously wirelessly transmit the imagingarea information or the imaging target information and the focusadjustment instruction information to the digital camera 2.

The operations of the digital camera 2 according to this embodiment aresubstantially the same as the operations illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.Hereinafter, only operations different from the operations illustratedin FIGS. 9 and 10 will be described. In this embodiment, after executingthe information reception process S24, the camera control unit 13controls the wireless communication unit 12 to wirelessly receive thefocus adjustment instruction information wirelessly transmitted from theportable terminal 1. The camera control unit 13 receiving the focusadjustment instruction information controls the camera imaging unit 10to perform focus adjustment.

In addition, the imaging execution process S42 is executed immediatelywhen the camera control unit 13 receives imaging execution instructioninformation in the imaging process 1 (S25). FIG. 18 illustrates an imagecaptured by the digital camera 2 when an imaging execution instructionhas been issued from the portable terminal 1 at the above-describedtiming. As illustrated in FIG. 18, imaging is performed at a timing atwhich the person 23 has reached substantially the center of the imagingrange 28. FIG. 19 illustrates an image to be transmitted by the digitalcamera 2 to the portable terminal 1. As illustrated in FIG. 19, an imageobtained by extracting a part of the imaging range 28 from the imageillustrated in FIG. 18 is transmitted to the portable terminal 1.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the imaging executioninstruction information is wirelessly transmitted from the portableterminal 1 to the digital camera 2 at a transmission timing based on thepredicted imaging timing and the communication delay time according tothe wireless communication. Thereby, the digital camera 2 can executeimaging at an appropriate imaging timing.

In addition, the digital camera 2 can appropriately execute the focusadjustment by wirelessly transmitting the focus adjustment instructioninformation before the imaging execution instruction information iswirelessly transmitted from the portable terminal 1 to the digitalcamera 2.

(Fourth Embodiment)

Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.In this embodiment, a method of controlling a zoom state of the digitalcamera to which an optical zoom function is added will be described

(Configuration)

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate a configuration of a digital camera 29according to this embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 20A, the digitalcamera 29 includes a camera imaging unit 10, an image processing unit11, a wireless communication unit 12, a camera control unit 13, a databus 14, and an optical zoom unit 30. In the digital camera 29, theoptical zoom unit 30 is connected to the camera imaging unit 10. Theoptical zoom unit 30 performs optical zoom for adjusting a zoom state ofan optical system. Because a configuration other than the optical zoomunit 30 is the same as the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2,description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, the digital camera 29 waits by setting zoommagnification to predetermined magnification at which a wide range canbe imaged before imaging area information or imaging target informationis transmitted from the portable terminal 1. In addition, the digitalcamera 29 performs an enlargement process while searching for theimaging range at a point in time at which the imaging range or theimaging target has been indicated and waits for an instruction ofimaging execution while maintaining a bare zoom state in which an imagecovering the imaging range can be captured.

In addition, when imaging is continuously performed, the digital camera29 starts to search for the imaging range while temporarily moving theoptical zoom unit 30 to a wide angle side at a point in time at whichthe imaging area information or the imaging target information for thenext imaging has been received. Thereafter, the digital camera 29 waitsfor an instruction of imaging execution while maintaining a bare zoomstate in which an image covering the imaging range can be captured.

FIG. 20B illustrates a functional configuration of the camera controlunit 13. The camera control unit 13 implements at least functions of acommunication control unit 13 a, an imaging control unit 13 b, and azoom control unit 13 c. The zoom control unit 13 c sets magnification ofthe optical zoom to first magnification which is less than or equal topredetermined magnification until the wireless communication unit 12wirelessly receives the imaging area information or the imaging targetinformation. The predetermined magnification, for example, ismagnification of a wide angle end or magnification in the vicinity ofthe wide angle end and before the wide angle end. In addition, after thewireless communication unit 12 has wirelessly received the imaging areainformation or the imaging target information, the zoom control unit 13c sets the magnification of the optical zoom to second magnificationwhich is greater than the predetermined magnification. Morespecifically, after the wireless communication unit 12 has wirelesslyreceived the imaging area information or the imaging target information,the zoom control unit 13 c sets the magnification of the optical zoom tothe second magnification which is greater than the predeterminedmagnification and can cover all of the imaging area represented by theimaging area information or the imaging target represented by theimaging target information.

After the magnification of the optical zoom has been set to the secondmagnification, the imaging control unit 13 b causes the camera imagingunit 10 to generate imaging data corresponding to an image including theimaging area represented by the imaging area information or the imagingtarget represented by the imaging target information. The communicationcontrol unit 13 a is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The configuration of the portable terminal 1 is the same as theconfiguration of the portable terminal 1 in the first embodiment.

(Operation Details)

FIG. 21 illustrates an image captured by the digital camera 29. Zoomprocessing to be performed by the digital camera 29 will be describedusing FIG. 21.

In FIG. 21, a frame 32 illustrates a range of imaging data output fromthe camera imaging unit 10 in a state in which the optical zoom unit 30is at the wide angle end. In addition, a frame 33 illustrates a range ofimaging data output from the camera imaging unit 10 after the zoomprocessing. An imaging range 31 is an imaging range designated from theportable terminal 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, when the imaging range 31 is designated fromthe portable terminal 1, the digital camera 29 moves the optical zoomunit 30 from the wide angle end (frame 32) to a position of the frame 33which barely covers the imaging range 31. According to theabove-described process, it is possible to perform imaging in an optimumzoom state in which the imaging range 31 is covered.

FIG. 22 illustrates the operation of the digital camera 2. In an overallprocess S80 illustrated in FIG. 22, zoom processing 1 (S82) is added tothe overall process S21 in FIG. 9 and the imaging process 1 (S25) ischanged to an imaging process 4 (S85). In the zoom processing 1 (S82) tobe performed after the initial setting S81, the camera control unit 13sets the zoom magnification to the first magnification. Thereby, thedigital camera 29 waits by setting the zoom magnification topredetermined magnification at which a wide range can be imaged beforethe imaging area information or the imaging target information istransmitted from the portable terminal 1. The imaging process 4 (S85)will be described using FIG. 23. Aside from the above-describedoperations, operations S81, S83 and S84, and S86 to S90 are the same asthe operations S2 to S13 illustrated in FIG. 9, and thus descriptionthereof is omitted.

FIG. 23 illustrates details of the imaging process 4 (S85). In theimaging process 4 (S85) illustrated in FIG. 23, zoom processing 2 (S91)is added to the imaging process 1 (S25) in FIG. 10. In the zoomprocessing 2 (S91) to be performed before the execution instructionwaiting S92, the camera control unit 13 sets the zoom magnification tothe second magnification which is greater than the first magnificationset in the zoom processing 1 (S82). Thereby, the digital camera 29 waitsfor an instruction of imaging execution while maintaining the bare zoomstate in a state in which an image to cover the imaging range can becaptured. Because operations S92 to S95 other than the above-describedoperations are similar to the operations S41 to S44 illustrated in FIG.10, description thereof is omitted.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the digital camera 2decreases the zoom magnification until the imaging area information orthe imaging target information is wirelessly received. In addition,after the imaging area information or the imaging target information hasbeen wirelessly received, the digital camera 2 increases the zoommagnification so that the imaging range corresponding to the imagingarea information or the imaging target information can be imaged.Thereby, the digital camera 2 can execute imaging in an appropriate zoomstate.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedand illustrated above, it should be understood that these are examplesof the present invention and are not to be considered as limiting.Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly,the present invention is not to be considered as being limited by theforegoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An imaging control terminal comprising: awireless communication interface configured to wirelessly communicatewith an imaging terminal including a digital camera; an imaging moduleconfigured to generate imaging data; a display interface configured todisplay an image corresponding to the imaging data generated by theimaging module; an operation interface configured to receive anoperation of an operator designating an imaging area or an imagingtarget to be imaged by the imaging terminal for the image captured bythe imaging module before an image captured by the imaging terminal iswirelessly received by the imaging control terminal in a state that theimaging control terminal and the imaging terminal are wirelesslyconnected; an information generation unit configured to generate imagingarea information representing the imaging area or imaging targetinformation representing the imaging target; and a communication controlunit configured to cause the wireless communication interface towirelessly transmit the imaging area information or the imaging targetinformation to the imaging terminal.
 2. The imaging control terminalaccording to claim 1, wherein the imaging area information or theimaging target information is information to be used in a process ofdetermining a range of an image to be wirelessly transmitted by theimaging terminal to the imaging control terminal.
 3. The imaging controlterminal according to claim 1, wherein the information generation unitgenerates imaging execution condition information representing animaging execution condition when the imaging terminal performs imaging,and the communication control unit causes the wireless communicationinterface to wirelessly transmit the imaging execution conditioninformation to the imaging terminal.
 4. The imaging control terminalaccording to claim 3, wherein the imaging execution conditioninformation is information about a state of an image of the imaging areaor the imaging target.
 5. An imaging control terminal comprising: awireless communication interface configured to wirelessly communicatewith an imaging terminal; an imaging module configured to generateimaging data; a display interface configured to display an imagecorresponding to the imaging data generated by the imaging module; anoperation interface configured to receive an operation of an operatordesignating an imaging area or an imaging target to be imaged by theimaging terminal for the image; an information generation unitconfigured to generate imaging area information representing the imagingarea or imaging target information representing the imaging target; acommunication control unit configured to cause the wirelesscommunication interface to wirelessly transmit the imaging areainformation or the imaging target information to the imaging terminal;and a prediction unit configured to predict an imaging timing at which astate of an image of the imaging area or the imaging target becomes apredetermined state based on imaging data corresponding to an imagedisplayed on the display interface, wherein the communication controlunit causes the wireless communication interface to wirelessly transmitimaging execution instruction information for issuing an instruction toexecute imaging to the imaging terminal at a point in time which is atleast a time necessary to wirelessly communicate with the imagingterminal earlier than the imaging timing.
 6. The imaging controlterminal according to claim 5, wherein the communication control unitcauses the wireless communication interface to wirelessly transmit focusadjustment instruction information for issuing a focus adjustmentinstruction before causing the wireless communication interface towirelessly transmit the imaging execution instruction information. 7.The imaging control terminal according to claim 5, wherein the imagingtiming is a timing at which the imaging target moves to a predeterminedposition of the imaging area.
 8. The imaging control terminal accordingto claim 5, wherein the prediction unit predicts a time from a starttime point of a process related to prediction to the imaging timing atwhich the state of the image of the imaging area or the imaging targetbecomes the predetermined state based on imaging data corresponding toan image displayed on the display interface, and predicts a transmissiontiming of the imaging execution instruction information based on theprediction time and a communication delay time according to wirelesscommunication, and the communication control unit causes the wirelesscommunication interface to wirelessly transmit the imaging executioninstruction information to the imaging terminal at the transmissiontiming.
 9. A portable control terminal for controlling a separatedigital camera having a camera imaging unit, the portable controlterminal comprising: a wireless communication interface configured towirelessly communicate with the separate digital camera; a portableimaging unit configured to generate imaging data; a display interfaceconfigured to display an image corresponding to the imaging datagenerated by the portable imaging unit; an operation interfaceconfigured to receive an operation of an operator designating an imagingarea or an imaging target to be captured by the camera imaging unit ofthe separate digital camera before an image captured by the cameraimaging unit of the separate digital camera is wirelessly received bythe portable control terminal in a state in that the portable controlterminal and the separate digital camera are wirelessly connected; aninformation generation unit configured to generate imaging areainformation representing the imaging area or imaging target informationrepresenting the imaging target; and a communication control unitconfigured to cause the wireless communication interface to wirelesslytransmit the imaging area information or the imaging target informationto the separate digital camera.